Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal Convicted for Sh84 Million Fraud in Landmark Anti-Corruption Case

Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal has been found guilty of unlawfully receiving Sh84 million for the supply of petroleum products at the county.

Lenolkulal becomes the first Governor to be convicted by the anti-corruption court.

The court found that the Governor who was then the county chief, used his company- Oryx service station- to supply petrol and diesel to the county government.

In a judgment delivered by anti-corruption chief magistrate Thomas Nzioka, the court noted that he was in conflict of interest when he traded with the county government of Samburu.

“The court finds that the accused used proxy’s in the name of Hesbon Wachira to trade. Wachira is also found guilty of acquiring public property”, the magistrate ruled.

Eleven prosecution witnesses testified in the case against the Governor and ten others, and 388 documentary exhibits that were presented throughout the hearing

The court said that the submissions that no money was lost is untrue

Other former county officers charged alongside the governor were also found guilty and convicted over abuse of office charges.

Lenolkulal was in 2019 charged with abuse of office and graft-related counts before the Milimani anti-corruption magistrate court.

He was charged with four counts of abuse of office and conflict of interest leading to the loss of Sh84 million in public funds from the Samburu county government.

He was accused of using his company- Oryx service station to supply petrol and diesel to the county government.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission said that was a clear case of conflict of interest.

The charge sheet showed Lenolkulal ‘knowingly acquired direct private interests in contracts between Oryx and Samburu county government for the supply of fuel”.

He was charged alongside Hesbon Ndathi and eight others.

The court in July last year found Lenolkulal with a case to answer.